Guide Part Device

ABSTRACT

A guide part device for guiding a top drive into a pipe, the end portion of the top drive which is arranged to be connected to the pipe being formed with a sloping end face.

This invention relates to a guide part. More particularly, it relates toa guide part for guiding a top drive into a pipe.

During the connection of a top-drive rotary system, a so-called topdrive, to a pipe as it is known for example from the assembling of apipe string for drilling in the ground, it is normal to position the topdrive above the pipe by means of mechanized and remote-operatedapparatuses.

Experience goes to show that several attempts may often be necessarybefore succeeding in guiding the threads of the top drive into the boxportion of the pipe.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of thedrawbacks of the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention through the featureswhich are specified in the description below and in the claims thatfollow.

A guide part in accordance with the invention for guiding a top driveinto a pipe is characterized by the end portion of the top drive whichis arranged to be connected to the pipe being formed with a sloping endface.

During movement in towards the other pipe, a sloping end face maycontribute to the top drive guiding itself into the pipe as theforemost, leading part of the sloping end face enters the box of theother pipe.

The end face may be arranged axially outside the threads of the endportion or it may overlap the threads of the end portion, whereby theend face cuts through the threads.

The end face may be centred relative to the centre axis of the topdrive, that is to say the area of the end face is distributed around thecentre axis of the top drive.

If desirable, the end face may be offset relative to the centre axis ofthe top drive. By a radial offset, for example, the leading portion ofthe end face may be moved closer to the centre axis of the top drive.

A device in accordance with the invention may facilitate the positioningoperation during connection of the top drive to a pipe.

In what follows is described an example of a preferred embodiment whichis visualized in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top drive, which is formed in accordance with theinvention, during movement in towards a pipe.

In the drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates a top drive having anend portion 2, the end portion 2 including a centric thread 4 projectingoutwards. The top drive 1 is arranged to be connected to a pipe 6 whichis provided with a box portion 8.

The thread 4 complementarily fits an internal thread 10 in the boxportion 8.

The end portion 2 of the top drive 1 is formed with a slanting end face12 located axially outside the thread 4. The end face 12 has a leadingportion 14 which is located, in this preferred exemplary embodiment, ata radial distance from the centre axis 16 of the top drive 1.

When the thread 4 of the top drive 1 is to be guided into the internalthread 10, the top drive 1 is moved down towards the pipe 6 until theleading portion 14 is in the internal thread 10.

By moving the top drive 1 further towards the pipe 6, the slanting endface 12, which does not have to be flat, guides the thread 4 into theinternal thread 10.

1. A guide part device for guiding a top drive's pipe formed end portionwith threads, into a pipe, wherein the end portion of the top drivewhich is arranged to be connected to threads of the pipe, outside thethreads have a leading end part that includes a sloping end face.
 2. Thedevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sloping end face isarranged axially outside the threads of the end portion.
 3. The devicein accordance with claim 1, wherein the sloping end face overlaps thethreads of the end portion.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the sloping end face is centered relative to the centre axis ofthe top drive.
 5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein thesloping end face is offset relative to the centre axis of the top drive.6. Use of a guide part according to claim 1 to guide the top drive intoa pipe.